KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — Just days after meeting with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has directed his lawyers to provide assistance to his former rival’s bid to challenge the National Security Council (NSC) Act.

When contacted, Dr Mahathir’s lawyer, Haniff Khatri Abdulla confirmed that he was given instructions to offer support to Anwar’s legal team on the matter.

“Yesterday, Tun (Dr Mahathir) told me to speak to Anwar’s (legal) team to see how we can offer our assistance in the latter’s bid to stop the implementation of NSC in court.

“It is not sure yet when I will be able to reach them but it will be soon,” he told Malay Mail Online.

Jailed PKR de facto leader Anwar has applied to challenge the implementation of the NSC Act.

At a hearing for the case on Monday, Dr Mahathir had appeared ostensibly to support the legal action by the man he sacked as deputy prime minister 18 years ago and had vilified regularly since.

Opposition leaders have sought to portray the meeting of the two rivals as a reconciliation, but Dr Mahathir was coy when asked if he had repaired his relationship with Anwar.

Barisan Nasional leaders conversely said the meeting was a sign of Dr Mahathir’s desperation to gain support for his political party and cause. – Malay Mail Online